three days from possibly going over the fiscal cliff. it's our focus this morning. if lawmakers fail to reach a deal, that would mean spending cuts and tax hikes for 88% of all american households come tuesday. look at these numbers from the tax policy center. some of the poorest americans who make up to $20,000 a year, will have to shell out $412 more to the irs and everyone earning more than $40,000 a year will be affected. if you make $40,000 to $64,000, you'll pay almost $2,000 a year, if you make between $64,000 to $108,000, that jumps up to 3,500. and anybody making more than $108,000, yeah, you'll have to give up a little more than $14,000. overall, the average american will pay more than $3,500 a year. will lawmakers be able to pull off a deal before the new year? here's cnn chief correspondent ali velshi. >> alison, i have no idea whether we'll get a fiscal cliff deal done or not. i do have a pretty good idea as to how we got into this gigantic pickle in the first place. >> now we've passed a bold package of tax relief for america's families and businesses.